The wagon wheels groaned.

The carriage advanced at a steady pace.

Up ahead, Split Mist Town was faintly visible.

He stroked the rather large and sturdy Wooden Treasure Chest beside him.

Zorn opened his system panel.

[Star Trace Fighter]

Level: Level 3 (96%)

[Talent]

Gangyi Iron Bone (SS-Level)

[Skills]

Shattering Spirit·Skull-Splitting Fist: LV2 (9%)

Vigorous Qi Mastery (Passive): LV0 (92%)

Thousand Streams·Gale Step: LV1 (5%)

...

Ever since the large-scale potion factory began operations and the Witches started working there, the amount of Fighting Essence Zorn acquired had surged.

This had allowed his Sequence experience to skyrocket, bringing him to Level 3 with 96% completion.

In just a few more days, he would have maxed out his experience and could attempt to advance to Level 4.

’The normal advancement process for an Evil Spirit involves picking an auspicious day and heading to a church packed with Believers. He’d have to wait until the devout were basking in the sound of a Priest’s prayers, then unleash Evil Spirit Calamity. He would then sacrifice their flesh and souls to complete the ritualistic advancement into an Evil Spirit Wizard.’

However, Zorn wasn’t limited to a single Sequence.

As someone with a Dual Sequence, Zorn planned to try a different method of advancement this time.

He would advance as a Fighting Master.

"Mr. Zorn!"

As Zorn stepped out of the carriage, carrying the large chest, the Extraordinary Guard stationed there immediately saluted him.

"Mm."

Zorn gave a slight nod, then carried the chest and walked down the passage that had opened within the Gray Mist.

Today marked the start of a new week of exploration in the Ancient Mage Ruins.

The old church hall was already bustling with numerous teams of Transcendents.

Previously, when both the opening times and the number of entrants were limited, the teams’ main objective had been to explore as deeply as possible.

Now, however, there were no such restrictions on time or personnel.

Therefore, the main goal had shifted to retrieving items from inside.

Most of the Transcendent teams had at least one Level 4 member and were well-balanced, allowing them to explore deep within for extended periods.

Each team also brought their own Monster Treasure Chests to make transporting supplies and loot easier.

When Zorn entered,

the gazes of many Transcendents fell upon him, and a buzz of conversation immediately filled the hall. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

Zorn Corick!

The young nobleman from Ogrande City.

The powerful Fighting Master who single-handedly defeated the Rat King in the Underground Sewer Dark Boundary Area.

The one who ended the Rat Plague.

Consultant on Extraordinary Studies for the police department.

And now, an Explorer of the Ancient Ruins.

Recently, Zorn Corick’s fame had skyrocketed within the Transcendent circles of Ogrande City.

As he waited, Madam Mable entered the hall, accompanied by a small team of staff from Split Mist Town.

As the ritual began,

Gray Mist surged forth, and within it, a Gray Mist Rift bloomed, leading directly to the fifth level below ground.

The various Transcendent teams filed inside one after another.

Just then, Madam Mable approached Zorn, her black high heels clicking. Exhaling a puff of smoke, she looked him and the large wooden chest beside him up and down.

"What... are you planning to haul in there?"

"Do you want the truth or a lie?"

Zorn replied playfully.

"What’s the lie?"

"The lie is that this is just an ordinary Monster Treasure Chest."

"That’s obviously not a Monster Treasure Chest. That’s a pretty flimsy lie!"

"And the truth is..."

Zorn lowered his voice.

"This is a [Magical Castle]."

"A Magical Castle?"

Madam Mable raised an eyebrow.

"Now that’s a rare treasure. Only the Witches of High Mountain have those. Ordinary people can’t buy one even if they try."

"But you seem to be on good terms with the Witches, so I suppose it makes sense you could get your hands on one."

Currently, the general understanding of Magical Castles among the Transcendents of this world was still quite primitive.

A deployed Magical Castle moved like a small, plodding mountain.

Useful, but not particularly threatening.

"You’re bringing a Magical Castle inside... what for?"

Madam Mable asked curiously.

Zorn glanced around, not answering immediately.

Madam Mable took a deep drag from her cigarette and then exhaled.

The smoke mingled with the ambient Gray Mist, forming a soundproof wall around the two of them.

"I’m going to absorb some of the Origin Power from the world-layers inside,"

Zorn said in a low voice.

"It’s an exclusive, confidential ritual."

"Your Reflected Man Sequence is a perfect match for the Mirror World. If you could store and assimilate some of its Origin Power, it would be a massive boost to your Sequence."

Madam Mable felt a jolt of excitement.

She had visited the Mirror World during the period of unrestricted access to the ruins.

When she arrived, she’d felt as though she had returned home; her mind was filled with an unprecedented sense of peace.

If she could master some of the power of the Mirror World, it would be of immense help to her Reflected Man Sequence.

But she had no idea how to absorb the power of a world.

She wasn’t even sure if absorbing the power of such a magical world was even possible.

So, the method Zorn had just described made her heart pound.

But she also had reservations. After a moment’s thought, she looked at Zorn and asked cautiously,

"If we do this... will it affect the world inside?"

"There will be an impact, but it will be negligible,"

Zorn said confidently.

"The world inside is remarkably complete and has been in a state of stable equilibrium for over a thousand years."

"If we absorb a portion of its power, the world will slowly recover on its own."

As he spoke, Zorn handed her an envelope he had prepared in advance.

"Read it, memorize it, then burn it."